MINNEAPOLIS (March 13, 2023) — BKV Group, a holistic, multidisciplinary design firm, today announced the addition of industry veteran Paul Michell, AIA, as government practice leader and partner. He brings nearly 25 years of experience to the firm as an accomplished public safety, government and community design practice leader, with a specialty in police facility projects, and will work out of the company’s Minneapolis practice site.
Michell’s diverse national work includes facility needs assessment studies, police headquarters, fire stations, municipal courts, city halls and other community-focused work. His notable recent projects include the Great Bend (Kan.) Justice Center; East Patrol Station in Wichita, Kan.; multiple fire stations in Shawnee, Kan. and Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and the Downtown Market Plaza, a public-private mixed-use development also in Lee’s Summit.
“Early in my career, I developed a passion for public safety architecture that is rooted in a desire to improve the communities in which I have the privilege of working, and to create beautiful, comfortable and functional spaces for those who have dedicated their lives to serving others,” said Michell. “BKV Group's commitment to holistic facility design, which not only incorporates dynamic spaces but also supports the mental and behavioral health of the clients we serve, aligns well with my approach to civic design, which I look forward to bringing to the firm's pipeline of projects across the Midwest.”
BKV projects that Michell will lead include a $175 million, 200,000-square-foot public safety development in Lansing, Mich., that includes police, court and fire facilities; a new police and fire station for the city of Winona, Minn.; and a study of municipal facilities for South St. Paul, Minn.
“With his detailed knowledge of the unique characteristics of complex public facilities, Paul brings a client and user focus to his understanding of the details necessary for the development of successful and meaningful projects and relationships,” said Bruce Schwartzman, government practice leader and senior partner with BKV Group. “He has a proven track record of business development, client management, public outreach, quality control and mentorship that will go a long way in expanding our expertise and project scope across the government practice sector in the months to come.”
Michell’s focus on law enforcement architecture began in 2001 at Police Facility Design Group in Kansas City, Mo., a firm dedicated to public safety architecture, where he ascended to the role of senior project manager during his more than 12 years with the company. Prior to BKV, Michell was vice president with the national design firm GLMV Architecture, where he led the company’s Kansas City office and helped develop its public safety practice. He also has professional experience in the mixed-use, hospitality, sports, luxury residential and commercial sectors.
He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Kansas and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and National Council of Architectural Registration boards. Michell was previously a member of the City Planning Commission in Independence, Mo., and a board member and active participant in several economic development organizations in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
About BKV Group:
For more than 40 years, BKV Group has designed and delivered community-enhancing, award-winning projects across a multitude of sectors including market-rate multifamily, student living, senior housing, affordable housing, government and federal, education and library, corporate and commercial, hospitality and mixed-use. Throughout BKV’s history, the firm has grown from a sole proprietorship into a diverse partnership with practice sites in Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and multiple cities in Vietnam. The firm’s holistic approach encompasses a variety of services including architecture; interior design; landscape architecture; mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering; construction administration; planning and pre-development, and branding. This integrated methodology ensures streamlined communication between disciplines to find the best design solutions under budget and time constraints while removing redundancies in the process and enhancing the design and function of each project. For more information, visit bkvgroup.com.
